Artificial stone baths: technical characteristics and selection features

Despite the popularity and variety of showers, many families are not ready to give up using the bathroom. The thing is that a bath for our compatriots is not just a sanitary device for maintaining hygiene, but also a place of relaxation, spiritual and physical rest, renewal.

The modern product market pleases with a variety of models. One of the unusual novelties is the stone bathtub, which is distinguished by its durability, strength and authenticity. Undoubtedly, the cost of aggregates made of natural material is high, however, the use of artificial stone makes it possible to obtain such a device at an affordable price.

A bathtub made of artificial stone is visually indistinguishable from its counterpart made of natural stone. Thanks to modern technologies, it is possible to reproduce the texture and color of the material as accurately as possible. At the same time, the bathtub has less weight and cost.

The manufacture of such models is carried out using granite, marble, malachite or quartz chips, with the addition of special plasticizers and catalysts, as well as polyester resins.

For the manufacture of such structures, the injection method is used. The resulting base has a liquid consistency, which is given the required shape by pouring into the prepared formwork. After a time (about a day), the liquid stone bath solidifies due to the presence of catalysts in the composition. After that, the structure is removed from the formwork. Then it is dried in a special oven, gaining strength, and settled. Then the product is sanded, polished, covered with protective compounds.

A stone bath made of artificial materials has a number of advantages.

• Increased strength. The device can withstand increased loads and mechanical stress, does not deteriorate during use.
• Long service life. Such baths are considered eternal. The service life, depending on the manufacturer, is 70-120 years.
• Low coefficient of thermal conductivity. This allows you to maintain the temperature of the water for a long time, that is, the water in the bathroom does not cool down.
• Hygiene. The smooth surface does not absorb dirt. Judging by customer reviews, mold and fungal microflora do not form on it.
• Unique appearance. The advantages of a stone bathtub are not limited to technical characteristics. It makes the room elegant and becomes an exclusive feature of the interior.
• Repairability. Unlike natural stone bathtubs, artificial analogs are subject to repair. When cracks and chips appear, it is recommended to immediately eliminate them using special compounds.

• Security. Artificial stone does not have a radiation background, which cannot be said about natural.
• Ease of use. Despite the fact that artificial baths, like natural ones, are afraid of cleaning agents with abrasive components, their care is quite simple. Such structures do not require special protection.
• No abrasion. This indicator is negligible due to the strength of the polymer-mineral structure of the product.
• High sound insulation properties. Thanks to this, the noise of pouring water is muffled, the bath is typed almost silently.
• Ease of installation. If during the installation process it is necessary to increase the drain diameter or equip the structure with an additional overflow, this can be easily done using a drill, then cleaning the edges. No chips or cracks will appear on the surface.

The high price of a cast stone unit is often noted, but it is worth noting that it is significantly lower than the cost of an analogue made of natural stone, but at the same time it is in no way inferior to it in terms of its operational properties. In addition, such a bath, with additional equipment, can have a hydromassage function. Due to its strength, it is not afraid of vibrations, strong pressure and sudden changes in water temperature.

The pros and cons of the material are due to the peculiarities of its production. In any case, a stone bathtub has a fairly large weight, and it looks very large, so it organically fits only into spacious rooms.

Such a bath requires periodic restoration of the protective layer., which protects the structure of the material from the effects of detergents and other household products. When this layer is abraded, unpleasant smudges and stains may appear on the surface of the device.

The purchased snow-white stone bathtub can turn yellowish or gray over time. Acrylic models are more durable in this regard. Prolonged stagnation of water can lead to rust stains.

Varieties of artificial stone baths differ in the type of crumb used in the composition.

There are two variants of the composition.

• Marble chips or other natural stone chips as well as resins, pigments and catalysts.
• Quartz sand, considered the most affordable artificial stone option. Devices made of river quartz sand are called acrylic stone baths. Such baths weigh less, have a lower cost, but their strength indicators are not as high as in the previous version.

Depending on the type of crumb used, the finished structure can simulate different materials.

• Marble is considered a classic. Such baths look luxurious and presentable.
• Granite is in no way inferior to marble material that looks appropriate in any interior.
• Onyx is an original material, a feature of which is the variety of overflows in the light, similar to the design with Swarovski stones. In addition, in comparison with other materials, it has the richest color palette.
• Malachite is a material with authenticity, unique mystery.
• Stone veneer is an incredible imitation of stone, the texture of which resembles soft wood.
• Sandstone is an incredibly beautiful material, from a natural analogue of which the famous pyramids were built.

Depending on the type of treatment of the external surface of the bath, it can have a different texture:

• chipped (the walls in this case have asymmetric chips);
• sanded (the surface is smoother, but the texture is still rough);
• polished (smooth matte surface with a slight sheen or barely discernible pattern);
• mirrored (glossy surface with a distinct stone color).

Also, baths can vary in shape. They are symmetrical and asymmetrical. Products are often made to order. Among the most popular forms, there are several options.

For safety, the corners of this design are rounded. The length of the product can reach 1.8 m, width - 65 cm. Due to the simple and laconic form of the product, you can focus on the texture and depth of the color palette of the stone. Such a structure can be placed in a small, even standard apartment.

This more sophisticated, respectable shape of the bathtub has the same dimensions as the rectangular model. It is recommended to place the oval bath in the center of the room, so it requires a lot of space.

The corner design is more ergonomic and can be of various designs: symmetrical or asymmetrical, one or two bowls, special protrusions and storage space.The corner model is usually heavier than the structures discussed above, and has a high cost.

The shape of the bathtub dictates how it should be installed.

There are two options.

• Wall mounted.
• Standing separately. Such a model is installed far from the walls, usually in the center of the room. As a rule, these are round or oval products, as well as custom-made designs.

Baths from the brand are rightfully considered the embodiment of high quality and impeccable aesthetics. Jacob Delafon... This, as well as the need to import products from France, determines their high cost. In the collection of the brand, you can find both fairly compact (from 120 cm long) and large structures, the maximum length of which is 200 cm. By the way, it is this brand that belongs to the idea of ​​a stone shower. The design is a combined shower cabin, the bathtub of which is made of cast marble.

Products of a domestic manufacturer are more affordable. Astra-Form... The decrease in cost is due to the use of quartz sand, which affects the durability of the material. In general, the company pleases with good quality products, a variety of models and colors.

If you are looking for a design that is cheaper than European counterparts (25% cheaper) with natural crumb in the composition, pay attention to the products of the Kostroma company "Esthete"... High quality, ease of maintenance are the undoubted advantages of the company's products. The only drawback is the small variety of collections. However, they include all the current shapes and shades of the bowls.

The most popular models are considered "Estet Alpha" and "Grace"equipped with armrests, the ability to install air massage and hydromassage, a decorative screen. The freestanding bathtub model also deserves attention. "Marseilles" 170x80. Its dimensions are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the model. "Grace", otherwise she is almost indistinguishable from her.

Another example of quality cast marble bathtubs is the brand's products Aquastone... The products meet European quality and safety requirements, are characterized by a 45-year service life and a 5-year warranty period. The diverse collections include a range of retro, modern designs and models with feet or pedestals.

If you are looking for an interestingly shaped imitation marble wall-mounted bathtub, pay attention to the model "Renata" from a Russian manufacturer "Fama Style"... It has a length and width of a little more than one and a half meters (154 cm) and at the same time is angular, which allows it to fit even in a small room. By the way, the same brand produces popular series Beaumont and Francesca... They are rectangular and more compact in size.

When planning to buy a bathtub made of artificial stone, you should be prepared for the fact that it cannot be cheap. Too low a price often indicates poor quality. It is better to purchase products from well-known brands.

When buying a bath on its surface, you can see the smallest pores in an insignificant amount. However, if their number is considerable, and the pores themselves are deep enough - the product is of poor quality, it is better to refuse to purchase.

Experts recommend paying attention to the composition of the product. It should be 80% stone chips and 20% resin. A slight (up to 2-3%) deviation from the specified ratio is allowed. Less marble or other chips can result in reduced product performance.

High-quality colored bathtubs have an appropriate shade even at the cut of the drain hole. This indicates that the pigment is added directly to the raw material when it is kneaded. Thanks to this technology, the finished product has an even shade without streaks, which remains throughout the entire period of operation.

By the way, colored bathtubs are usually matched to the color of the interior of the room or, on the contrary, become the highlight of the room, having a different color from its palette. Gray, milk, coffee models are considered universal.

As for the dimensions of the structure, a rectangular bathtub with dimensions of 170x70 is considered standard. However, if the size of the room allows, it is better to choose a slightly wider bowl - 170x75.

For a spacious room, you can pick up a freestanding structure of an unusual shape or a large rectangular bathtub (190x90 cm) with armrests. Such models look quite massive and luxurious. It is desirable that the bathtub have decorative side screens, also made of stone mass. Models from the Estet Delta brand 180x80 and 160x70 can be considered a worthy example. Dimensions shown are standard and are for a typical bathroom or slightly larger room.

If you are thinking about what height the bathtub should have, then the standard height is 460 mm (depth 450 mm). If the product is equipped with a hydromassage, an increase in depth of 15-20 cm is permissible.

The absence of pores (or their minimum number) in the surface of the artificial stone bath ensures ease of maintenance. On such a surface, dirt does not accumulate, it has the ability to self-cleaning. Any sanitary cleaner can be used, except products with abrasive ingredients. We'll have to forget about hard sponges and brushes. It is enough to clean the bath 2-3 times a week.

To avoid possible discoloration of the surface of the material, as well as the formation of stains, you can thoroughly rinse the bath after each use and wipe it dry.

It is important to avoid leaking plumbing, as well as the accumulation of even a small amount of liquid in the bath, as this can cause rust stains. You can get rid of them by wiping the surface with a cloth moistened with hydrogen peroxide.

Small chips and scratches can be removed by hand by purchasing a special repair kit. It is important to consider that for a colored bathtub you need a repair kit of the same shade as the color of the product.

For technical characteristics and features of choosing a bathtub made of artificial stone, see the following video.